dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 4
DRACONIC
BEASTS
Illus. by J. Easley
ASPECT OF TIAMAT
A nightmarish vision of hatred, rage, and might writhes into view.
Five heads, each the color of a different chromatic dragon, spear you
with their terrible gazes, momentarily shocking you into stillness as
you take stock of the rest of the terrible creature. Beyond five sinuous
necks is the creature’s powerful and thickly scaled body, wings the size
of ships’ sails, and a long tail that ends in a scorpionlike barb.
Aspect of Tiamat CR 13
LE Huge dragon (extraplanar)
Init +3; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., low-light
vision (4 × human); Listen +18, Spot +18
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Giant, Goblin,
Infernal
AC 25, touch 7, flat-footed 25
(–2 size, –1 Dex, +18 natural)
hp 174 (12 HD); DR 5/epic
Immune sleep, paralysis
Resist acid 15, cold 15, electricity 15, fire 15
Fort +16, Ref +7, Will +11
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 50 ft. (clumsy)
Melee 5 bites +21 each (2d8+11/19–20) and
sting +16 (1d6+5 plus poison)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with bite)
Base Atk +12; Grp +31
Atk Options Power Attack
Special Actions breath weapon, crush
Abilities Str 32, Dex 9, Con 26, Int 19, Wis 16, Cha 18
Feats Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (bite),
Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Intimidate +19, Knowledge (arcana) +19, Knowledge
(history) +19, Knowledge (the planes) +19, Knowledge
(religion) +19, Listen +18, Search +19, Sense Motive +18,
Spot +18, Survival +18
Poison (Ex) Injury, Fortitude DC 24, initial and
secondary damage 1d8 Con. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Breath Weapon (Su) 40-ft. cone or line; each head
once every 1d4 rounds; 12d8 damage acid,
cold, electricity, or fire; Reflex DC 24 half. Each
of the aspect’s five heads can produce a breath
weapon, but only one head can do so in any
single round.
Crush (Ex) Area 15 ft. by 15 ft.; Small or smaller
opponents take 2d8+16 points of bludgeoning
damage and must succeed on a DC 24 Reflex save or
be pinned.
full attack, the aspect often bites one opponent and uses its
tail on another. When one victim falls, the aspect attacks the
other (using its Cleave feat), hoping to gain another Cleave
attack after slaying that foe as well.
SAMPLE ENCOUNTER
An aspect of Tiamat almost always keeps a large retinue of
guards nearby to protect and serve her, and many such aspects
have consorts among mortal beings.
Mother of Monsters (EL 12): An aspect of Tiamat has
given birth to three half-dragon human fighters (MM 146)
with the help of a father she later devoured. Now they and a
juvenile blue dragon serve as her bodyguards. In a fight, the
bodyguards move to engage the enemy while the aspect of
Tiamat breathes acid through them. Then the blue dragon
moves into melee behind the half-dragons while the aspect
flies behind foes to cut off escape.
ECOLOGY
As outsiders, aspects of Tiamat don’t need to eat, sleep, or
breathe. Tiamat creates them fully formed.
Environment: An aspect of Tiamat can live in virtually
any environment its worshipers favor.
110
The Dragon Queen uses her aspects to deliver messages of
her divine will and wreak unholy revenge upon those who
foil her plots. Powerful clerics of Tiamat can call upon her
aid in the form of an aspect, but she grants this honor only
to those who honor her appropriately in return.
STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
An aspect of Tiamat uses one of its breath weapons
(typically, acid) in the first round, and then closes
with foes to bring its full attack to bear. If necessary,
it flies closer to its enemies and uses its
crush attack on one foe. When it can make a
Aspect of Tiamat